Phyllis Adeline Ahrens

Phyllis Adeline Ahrens, 97, cherished mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother peacefully departed this life with family by her side on July 12, 2026, at Sunnyside Retirement Community. Born November 13, 1928, in New York, she was the daughter of the late George Alfred and Myrtle Bryant Kloer.

Phyllis began her career at the New York Telephone company where she met the love of her life, Robert Fred Ahrens. They married on June 4,1950. She dedicated her early years to raising her children, volunteering in numerous capacities and serving as a den Mom for the cub-scouts for her son and as girl scout leader for her daughter. Following the death of her beloved husband on June 29, 1980, she resumed her career at the New York Telephone Company where she stayed through retirement.

Phyllis was kind and compassionate. For over 30 years she was a devoted member of the Telephone Pioneers volunteer organization holding chapter positions of President, Treasurer, and Secretary. She volunteered for over 20 years at the Mill Neck Manor School for the deaf, the Lemon Street Soup Kitchen and Berkshire Nursing Home. Over many years she placed flags on the military graves at Pinelawn and spearheaded fundraising efforts to assist local school children by providing reading books, dictionaries and backpacks. In 2013 she was recognized for her lifetime service as a Pioneers Hall of Fame recipient.

In 2019, Phyllis relocated to Sunnyside Retirement Community in Harrisonburg, VA to be closer to family. She cherished the many new friendships she made at Sunnyside and was known to play a mean game of Rummikub.

Her family loved how she truly embraced all of the modern technologies. She was still active on her iPad and social media the week of her passing.

She was preceded in death by her beloved, son, Jeffery William, on January 14, 1959, and husband, Robert, on June 29, 1980. Surviving are a son, Glenn R. Ahrens and wife, Cathy of Meredith, New Hampshire; a daughter, Karen A. Wheatley and husband, Bob of Harrisonburg, Virginia; six grandchildren, Stephanie Newbery, Christopher Ahrens, Jordan Skolnitsky, Gray Wheatley, Kristin Stephens and Gregory Guntharp; eight great-grandchildren and three nieces.

Interment will be privately held at the Long Island National Cemetery in New York, where she will be laid to rest beside her husband and son. Memorial gifts can be directed to the Sunnyside Retirement Community Fellowship Fund.